Polymerizable compound, polymerizable composition, polymer, and optically anisotropic body

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a polymerizable compound represented by the following formula (I), a polymerizable composition that includes the polymerizable compound and an initiator, a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound or the polymerizable composition, and an optically anisotropic article that includes the polymer. The invention makes it possible to provide a polymerizable compound, a polymerizable composition, and a polymer that have a practical low melting point, exhibit an excellent solubility in a general-purpose solvent, can be produced at low cost, and may produce an optical film that achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength band, and an optically anisotropic article. [In formula: Q 1  to Q 4  represent hydrogen atoms or the like; X represents a C6-C12 divalent aromatic group or the like; A x  and A y  represent groups represented by the following formula (II); n represents 0 or 1; * represents a bonding position; Y 1  to Y 6  represent a single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O— or the like; G 1  and G 2  represent divalent C1-C20 aliphatic groups or the like; Z 1  and Z 2  represent C2-C10 alkenyl groups or the like; A 1  represents a trivalent aromatic group or the like; and A 2  and A 3  represent divalent C6-C30 aromatic groups or the like.]

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a polymerizable compound, a polymerizable composition, and a polymer that may produce an optical film that achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength band, and also relates to an optically anisotropic article.

A flat panel display (FPD) that utilizes an optical film (e.g., polarizer and retardation film) can achieve high-resolution display, and has been widely used as an advantageous display device.

However, a known retardation film has a problem in that polarized light that passes through the retardation film is converted into colored polarized light. In order to solve the above problem, various wideband retardation films that can achieve uniform retardation for light over a wide wavelength band (i.e., retardation films having reverse wavelength dispersion) have been studied (see Patent Documents 1 to 6, for example).

It has been desired to reduce the thickness of the flat panel display as much as possible along with an improvement in performance and widespread use of mobile information terminals (e.g., mobile personal computer and mobile phone). Therefore, a reduction in thickness of the retardation film has also been desired. It has been considered that the thickness of the retardation film can be most effectively reduced by producing the retardation film by applying a polymerizable composition that includes a low-molecular-weight polymerizable compound to a film substrate. Low-molecular-weight polymerizable compounds having excellent wavelength dispersion and polymerizable compositions using such polymerizable compounds have been proposed (see Patent Documents 7 to 24, for example).

However, the low-molecular-weight polymerizable compounds or the polymerizable compositions disclosed in Patent Documents 7 to 24 have a number of problems in that reverse wavelength dispersion may be insufficient, or it may be difficult to apply the low-molecular-weight polymerizable compounds or the polymerizable compositions to a film due to a high melting point, or the temperature range in which liquid crystallinity is obtained may be very narrow, or the solubility in a solvent normally used for an industrial process may be low. Moreover, since the above low-molecular-weight polymerizable compounds and the like are synthesized by a plurality of steps using a synthesis method that utilizes an expensive reagent, an increase in cost occurs.

RELATED-ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1: JP-A-10-68816 -   Patent Document 2: JP-A-10-90521 -   Patent Document 3: JP-A-11-52131 -   Patent Document 4: JP-A-2000-284126 (US20020159005A1) -   Patent Document 5: JP-A-2001-4837 -   Patent Document 6: WO2000/026705 -   Patent Document 7: JP-A-2002-267838 -   Patent Document 8: JP-A-2003-160540 (US20030102458A1) -   Patent Document 9: JP-A-2005-208414 -   Patent Document 10: JP-A-2005-208415 -   Patent Document 11: JP-A-2005-208416 -   Patent Document 12: JP-A-2005-289980 (US20070176145A1) -   Patent Document 13: JP-A-2006-330710 (US20090072194A1) -   Patent Document 14: JP-A-2009-179563 (US20090189120A1) -   Patent Document 15: JP-A-2010-31223 -   Patent Document 16: JP-A-2011-6360 -   Patent Document 17: JP-A-2011-6361 -   Patent Document 18: JP-A-2011-42606 -   Patent Document 19: JP-T-2010-537954 (US20100201920A1) -   Patent Document 20: JP-T-2010-537955 (US20100301271A1) -   Patent Document 21: WO2006/052001 (US20070298191A1) -   Patent Document 22: U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,771 -   Patent Document 23: U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,724 -   Patent Document 24: U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,349

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

The invention was conceived in view of the above situation. An object of the invention is to provide a polymerizable compound, a polymerizable composition, and a polymer that have a practical low melting point, exhibit an excellent solubility in a general-purpose solvent, can be produced at low cost, and may produce an optical film that achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength band, and an optically anisotropic article.

Solution to Problem

The inventors of the invention conducted extensive studies in order to achieve the above object. As a result, the inventors found that an optical film that achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength band, and shows satisfactory performance can be produced at low cost by utilizing a polymerizable compound represented by the following general formula (I), a polymerizable composition that includes the polymerizable compound and an initiator, a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound or the polymerizable composition, and an optically anisotropic article that includes the polymer. This finding has led to the completion of the invention.

Several aspects of the invention provide the following polymerizable compound (see (1) to (7)), polymerizable composition (see (8)), polymer (see (9)), and optically anisotropic body (see (10)).

(1) A polymerizable compound represented by the following general formula (I),

wherein Q¹ to Q⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, X is a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic group having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, A^(x) and A^(y) are independently a group represented by the following general formula (II),

wherein “*” indicates a bonding position, Y¹ to Y⁶ are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —S—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—O—, —NR¹—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—NR¹—, —O—C(═O)—NR¹—, —NR¹—C(═O)—O—, —NR¹—C(═O)—NR¹—, —O—NR¹—, or —NR¹—O—, R¹ is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, G¹ and G² are independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms that optionally includes —O—, —S—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—O—, —NR²—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—NR²—, —NR—, or —C(═O)—, provided that a case where the aliphatic group includes two or more adjacent —O— or —S— is excluded, R² is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, Z¹ and Z² are independently an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms that is substituted with a halogen atom, or unsubstituted, A¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent aromatic group, and A² and A³ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, and n is 0 or 1. (2) The polymerizable compound according to (1), wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein A¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent benzene ring group, or a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent naphthalene ring group, and A² and A³ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group. (3) The polymerizable compound according to (1) or (2), wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein Y¹ to Y⁶ are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—. (4) The polymerizable compound according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein Z¹ and Z² are independently CH₂═CH—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, or CH₂═C(Cl)—. (5) The polymerizable compound according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein G¹ and G² are independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms that optionally includes —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —C(═O)—, provided that a case where the aliphatic group includes two or more adjacent —O— is excluded. (6) The polymerizable compound according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein X in the general formula (I) is a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted biphenylene group. (7) The polymerizable compound according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein A¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent benzene ring group, A² and A³ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, Y¹ to Y⁶ are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—, G¹ and G² are independently an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and Z¹ and Z² are independently CH₂═CH—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, or CH₂═C(Cl)—. (8) A polymerizable composition including at least one type of the polymerizable compound according to any one of (1) to (7), and an initiator. (9) A polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound according to any one of (1) to (7), or the polymerizable composition according to (8). (10) An optically anisotropic article including the polymer according to (9).

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

The polymerizable compound, the polymerizable composition, and the polymer according to the aspects of the invention make it possible to inexpensively obtain an optical film that achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength band, and shows satisfactory performance.

Since the optically anisotropic article according to the aspect of the invention includes the polymer according to the aspect of the invention, it is possible to easily and inexpensively produce an optical film that achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength band, and shows satisfactory performance Specific application example of the optical film include an antireflective film may be combined with a polarizer, and may suitably be used to prevent reflection from a touch panel or an organic electroluminescence device.

A polymerizable compound, a polymerizable composition, a polymer, and an optically anisotropic article according to exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below.

1) Polymerizable Compound

A polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by the general formula (I).

Q¹ to Q⁴ in the general formula (I) are independently a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

Examples of the (unsubstituted) alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms include a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, a sec-butyl group, a t-butyl group, an n-pentyl group, an n-hexyl group, and the like.

Examples of a substituent that may substitute the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms include halogen atoms such as a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom; alkoxy groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, an n-propoxy group, an isopropoxy group, an n-butoxy group, a sec-butoxy group, a t-butoxy group, an n-pentyloxy group, and an n-hexyloxy group; and the like. Among these, a fluorine atom, a methoxy group, and an ethoxy group are preferable.

It is preferable that Q¹ to Q⁴ be independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and more preferably a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

X in the general formula (I) is a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic group having 4 to 12 carbon atoms.

The aromatic group represented by X may be a monocyclic aromatic group, a polycyclic aromatic group, or an aromatic group in which a plurality of aromatic rings are bonded.

Examples of the aromatic group represented by X are shown below. Note that “—” in the following formulas indicates a chemical bond (hereinafter the same).

These aromatic groups may be substituted with a substituent at an arbitrary position. Examples of the substituent include halogen atoms, a cyano group, a hydroxyl group, alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a nitro group, a —C(═O)—OR^(a) group (wherein R^(a) is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms), and the like. Among these, halogen atoms, alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and alkoxy groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms are preferable, and a fluorine atom, alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbon atoms such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, and a propyl group, and alkoxy groups having 1 to 3 carbon atoms such as a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, and a propoxy group are more preferable.

The aromatic group represented by X is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted biphenylene group, more preferably a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group, still more preferably the group represented by the following formula (X1) or the group represented by the following formula (X2), and particularly preferably the group represented by the following formula (X1), in order to ensure that the intended effects of the invention can be more advantageously achieved.

A^(x) and A^(y) in the general formula (I) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II).

Y¹ to Y⁶ in the general formula (II) are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —S—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—O—, —NR¹—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—NR¹—, —O—C(═O)—NR¹—, —NR¹—C(═O)—O—, —NR¹—C(═O)—NR¹—, —O—NR¹—, or —NR¹—O—.

R¹ is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

Examples of the alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms represented by R¹ include a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-butyl group, a sec-butyl group, a t-butyl group, an n-pentyl group, an n-hexyl group, and the like.

R¹ is preferably a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

It is preferable that Y¹ to Y⁶ be independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—.

G¹ and G² are independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

Examples of the divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms include aliphatic groups having a linear structure; aliphatic groups having an alicyclic structure such as a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon (cycloalkane) structure or an unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon (cycloolefin) structure; and the like.

Examples of a substituent that may substitute the divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms include halogen atoms such as a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom; alkoxy groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, an n-propoxy group, an isopropoxy group, an n-butoxy group, a sec-butoxy group, a t-butoxy group, an n-pentyloxy group, and an n-hexyloxy group; and the like. Among these, a fluorine atom, a methoxy group, and an ethoxy group are preferable.

The aliphatic group optionally includes —O—, —S—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—O—, —NR²—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—NR²—, —NR—, or —C(═O)— (provided that a case where the aliphatic group includes two or more adjacent —O— or —S— is excluded).

Among these, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, and —C(═O)— are preferable.

R² is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms similar to that represented by R¹, and is preferably a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

Specific examples of the aliphatic group that includes the above group include —CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—S—CH₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—O—C(═O)—CH₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—C(═O)—O—CH₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—C(═O)—O—CH₂—, —CH₂—O—C(═O)—O—CH₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—NR²—C(═O)—CH₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—C(═O)—NR²—CH₂—, —CH₂—NR²—CH₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—C(═O)—CH₂—, and the like.

It is preferable that G¹ and G² be independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, more preferably a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group having a linear structure (e.g., an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or an alkenylene group having 2 to 12 carbon atoms), still more preferably an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms (e.g., methylene group, ethylene group, trimethylene group, propylene group, tetramethylene group, pentamethylene group, hexamethylene group, or octamethylene group), and particularly preferably a tetramethylene group (—(CH₂)₄—) or a hexamethylene group (—(CH₂)₆—), in order to ensure that the intended effects of the invention can be more advantageously achieved.

Z¹ and Z² are independently an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms that is substituted with a halogen atom, or unsubstituted.

The number of carbon atoms of the alkenyl group is preferably 2 to 6. Examples of the halogen atom that may substitute the alkenyl group represented by Z¹ and Z² include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and the like. Among these, a chlorine atom is preferable.

Specific examples of the alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms represented by Z¹ and Z² include CH₂═CH—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, CH₂═CH—CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—, CH₂═CH—CH₂—CH₂—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂—, (CH₃)₂C═CH—CH₂—, (CH₃)₂C═CH—CH₂—CH₂—, CH₂═C(Cl)—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—CH₂—, CH₃—CH═CH—CH₂—, and the like.

It is preferable that Z¹ and Z² be independently CH₂═CH₂—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, CH₂═C(Cl)—, CH₂═CH—CH₂—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—CH₂—, or CH₂═C(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂—, more preferably CH₂═CH₂—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, or CH₂═C(Cl)—, and still more preferably CH₂═CH₂—, in order to ensure that the intended effects of the invention can be more advantageously achieved.

A¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent aromatic group. The trivalent aromatic group may be a trivalent carbocyclic aromatic group, or may be a trivalent heterocyclic aromatic group. It is preferable that the trivalent aromatic group be a trivalent carbocyclic aromatic group, and more preferably a trivalent benzene ring group or a trivalent naphthalene ring group represented by the following formulas. Note that the substituents Y¹ and Y² are also shown in the following formulas so that the bonding state can be easily understood (Y¹ and Y² are the same as defined above; hereinafter the same).

A¹ is more preferably any of the groups represented by the following formulas (A11) to (A18), and particularly preferably the group represented by the formula (A11).

The trivalent aromatic group represented by A¹ may be substituted with a substituent. Examples of the substituent include halogen atoms such as a fluorine atom and a chlorine atom; a cyano group; alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, and a propyl group; alkenyl groups having 2 to 6 carbon atoms such as a vinyl group and an allyl group; alkyl halide groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as a trifluoromethyl group; substituted amino groups such as a dimethylamino group; alkoxy groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, and an isopropoxy group; a nitro group; aryl groups such as a phenyl group and a naphthyl group; a —C(═O)—OR^(b) group; an —SO₂R^(b) group; and the like. Note that R^(b) is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms.

A² and A³ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms.

The aromatic group represented by A² and A³ may be a monocyclic aromatic group, or may be a polycyclic aromatic group.

Specific examples of the aromatic group represented by A² and A³ include the following groups.

The above organic groups that may be represented by A² and A³ may be substituted with a substituent at an arbitrary position. Examples of the substituent include halogen atoms, a cyano group, a hydroxyl group, alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a nitro group, a —C(═O)—OR^(e) group, and the like. Note that R^(e) is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Among these, halogen atoms, alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and alkoxy groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms are preferable, and a fluorine atom, alkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbon atoms such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, and a propyl group, and alkoxy groups having 1 to 3 carbon atoms such as a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, and a propoxy group are more preferable.

It is preferable that A² and A³ be independently a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group, more preferably the group represented by the following formula (A21) or (A22), and particularly preferably the group represented by the formula (A21), in order to ensure that the intended effects of the invention can be more advantageously achieved.

n in the general formula (I) is 0 or 1, and preferably 0.

In order to ensure that the intended effects of the invention can be more advantageously achieved, it is preferable that the polymerizable compound represented by the general formula (I) be:

(i) the polymerizable compound represented by the general formula (I) wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein A¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent benzene ring group, A² and A³ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, Y¹ to Y⁶ are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—, G¹ and G² are independently an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and Z¹ and Z² are independently CH₂═CH—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, or CH₂═C(Cl)—, (ii) more preferably the polymerizable compound represented by the general formula (I) wherein A^(y) is identical with A^(x), A^(x) is the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein A¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent benzene ring group, A² and A³ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, Y¹ to Y⁶ are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—, G¹ and G² are independently an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and Z¹ and Z² are independently CH₂═CH—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, or CH₂═C(Cl)—, (iii) still more preferably the polymerizable compound represented by the general formula (I) wherein n is 0, A^(y) is identical with A^(x), A^(x) is the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein A¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent benzene ring group, A² and A³ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, Y¹ to Y⁶ are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—, G¹ and G² are independently an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and Z¹ and Z² are independently CH₂═CH—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, or CH₂═C(Cl)—, and (iv) particularly preferably the polymerizable compound represented by the general formula (I) wherein n is 0, A^(y) is identical with A^(x), A^(x) is the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein the group represented by Z²—Y⁶-G²-Y⁴-A³-Y² is identical with the group represented by Z¹—Y⁵-G¹-Y³-A²-Y¹, A¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent benzene ring group, A² is a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, Y¹, Y³, and Y⁵ are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—, G¹ is an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and Z¹ is CH₂═CH—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, or CH₂═C(Cl)—.

Note that the polymerizable compound represented by the general formula (I) may be a stereoisomer based on the carbon-nitrogen double bond. These stereoisomers are also intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

The polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention may be produced by an arbitrary method. For example, the polymerizable compound may be produced by the following production methods. Production method (1-1)

wherein A^(x), A^(y), Q¹ to Q⁴, and X are the same as defined above.

The production method (1-1) is a method that produces a polymerizable compound (I-1) represented by the general formula (I) wherein n is 1.

Specifically, the compound represented by the formula (2) (compound (2)) is reacted with the carbonyl compound represented by the formula (1) (carbonyl compound (1)) in an appropriate solvent in a molar ratio (carbonyl compound (1):compound (2)) of 1:1 to 1:2 (preferably 1:1 to 1:1.5) (step 1) to produce the compound represented by the formula (3) (compound (3)), and the compound (3) is isolated, and reacted with the carbonyl compound represented by the formula (4) (carbonyl compound (4)) in an appropriate solvent in a molar ratio (compound (3):carbonyl compound (4)) of 1:1.5 to 1.5:1 (step 2) to obtain the target polymerizable compound represented by the formula (I-1) (polymerizable compound (I-1)).

Note that the step 2 may be performed without isolating the compound (3) after the step 1, and the polymerizable compound (I-1) may be isolated from the resulting reaction mixture.

The solvent used for the above reaction is not particularly limited as long as the solvent is inert to the reaction. Examples of the solvent include alcohol-based solvents such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, sec-butyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, n-pentyl alcohol, and amyl alcohol; ether-based solvents such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 1,4-dioxane, and cyclopentyl methyl ether; ester-based solvents such as ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, and methyl propionate; aromatic hydrocarbon-based solvents such as benzene, toluene, and xylene; aliphatic hydrocarbon-based solvents such as n-pentane, n-hexane, and n-heptane; amide-based solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, and hexamethylphosphoric triamide; sulfur-containing solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and sulfolane; mixed solvents including two or more solvents among these solvents; and the like.

Among these, alcohol-based solvents, ether-based solvents, and mixed solvents of an alcohol-based solvent and an ether-based solvent are preferable.

The solvent may be used in an appropriate amount taking account of the type of each compound, the reaction scale, and the like. The solvent is normally used in an amount of 1 to 100 g per gram of the compounds used for the reaction in total.

The reaction proceeds smoothly when the reaction temperature is within the range from −10° C. to the boiling point of the solvent. The reaction time is determined taking account of the reaction scale, and is normally several minutes to several tens of hours.

When A^(x) and A^(y) are identical, and Q¹ and Q⁴ are identical, the target polymerizable compound (I-2) can be produced by a single step by reacting the compound (2) with a 2-fold equivalent of the carbonyl compound (1) (see the following formula).

Production Method (1-2)

wherein A^(x), A^(y), Q¹, and Q² are the same as defined above.

The production method (1-2) is a method that produces a polymerizable compound (I-3) represented by the general formula (I) wherein n is 0.

Specifically, the hydrazine (5) is reacted with the carbonyl compound (1) in an appropriate solvent in a molar ratio (carbonyl compound (1):hydrazine (5)) of 1:1 to 1:5 (preferably 1:1 to 1:2) (step 1) to produce the compound represented by the formula (6) (compound (6)), and the compound (6) is isolated, and reacted with the carbonyl compound represented by the formula (7) (carbonyl compound (7)) in an appropriate solvent in a molar ratio (compound (6):carbonyl compound (7)) of 1:1.5 to 1.5:1 (step 2) to obtain the target polymerizable compound represented by the formula (I-3).

The solvent used for the above reaction is not particularly limited as long as the solvent is inert to the reaction. Examples of the solvent include those mentioned above in connection with the production method (1-1).

The solvent may be used in an appropriate amount taking account of the type of each compound, the reaction scale, and the like. The solvent is normally used in an amount of 1 to 100 g per gram of hydrazine.

The reaction proceeds smoothly when the reaction temperature is within the range from −10° C. to the boiling point of the solvent. The reaction time is determined taking account of the reaction scale, and is normally several minutes to several tens of hours.

Note that the step 2 may be performed without isolating the compound (6) after the step 1, and the polymerizable compound (I-3) may be isolated from the resulting reaction mixture.

When A^(x) and A^(y) are identical, and Q¹ and Q² are identical, the target polymerizable compound represented by the following formula (I-4) can be produced by a single step by reacting the hydrazine (5) with a 2-fold equivalent of the carbonyl compound (1) (see below). Note that A^(x) and Q¹ are the same as defined above.

Hydrazine monohydrate is normally used as the hydrazine (5). A commercially available product may be used directly as the hydrazine (5) (hereinafter the same).

The compound (2) may be produced as shown below.

wherein Q², Q³, and X are the same as defined above.

Specifically, the compound (2) may be produced by reacting the compound represented by the formula (8) (compound (8)) with a 2-fold equivalent of the hydrazine (5) in an appropriate solvent.

The solvent used for the above reaction is not particularly limited as long as the solvent is inert to the reaction. Examples of the solvent include those mentioned above in connection with the production method (1-1).

The reaction proceeds smoothly when the reaction temperature is within the range from −10° C. to the boiling point of the solvent. The reaction time is determined taking account of the reaction scale, and is normally several minutes to several hours.

The carbonyl compounds (1), (4), and (7) used for the production methods (1-1) and (1-2) may be produced by appropriately bonding and modifying a plurality of known compounds having a desired structure by arbitrarily combining an ether linkage (—O—)-forming reaction, an ester linkage (—C(═O)—O— or —O—C(═O)—)-forming reaction, a carbonate linkage (—O—C(═O)—O—)-forming reaction, and an amide linkage (—C(═O)NH— or —NHC(═O)—)-forming reaction.

An ether linkage may be formed as described below, for example.

(i) A compound represented by D1-hal (wherein hal is a halogen atom; hereinafter the same) and a compound represented by D2-OMet (wherein Met is an alkali metal (mainly sodium; hereinafter the same)) are mixed and condensed (Williamson synthesis). Note that D1 and D2 are an arbitrary organic group (hereinafter the same). (ii) A compound represented by D1-hal and a compound represented by D2-OH are mixed and condensed in the presence of a base (e.g., sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide). (iii) A compound represented by D1-J (wherein J is an epoxy group) and a compound represented by D2-OH are mixed and condensed in the presence of a base (e.g., sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide). (iv) A compound represented by D1-ofn (wherein ofn is a group that includes an unsaturated bond) and a compound represented by D2-OMet are mixed and subjected to an addition reaction in the presence of a base (e.g., sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide). (v) A compound represented by D1-hal and a compound represented by D2-OMet are mixed and condensed in the presence of copper or cuprous chloride (Ullmann condensation).

An ester linkage and an amide linkage may be formed as described below, for example.

(vi) A compound represented by D1-COOH and a compound represented by D2-OH or D2-NH₂ are subjected to dehydration and condensation in the presence of a dehydration-condensation agent (e.g., N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide). (vii) A compound represented by D1-COOH is reacted with a halogenating agent to obtain a compound represented by D1-CO-hal, and the compound represented by D1-CO-hal is reacted with a compound represented by D2-OH or D2-NH₂ in the presence of a base. (viii) A compound represented by D1-COOH is reacted with an acid anhydride to obtain a mixed acid anhydride, and the mixed acid anhydride is reacted with a compound represented by D2-OH or D2-NH₂. (ix) A compound represented by D1-COOH and a compound represented by D2-OH or D2-NH₂ are subjected to dehydration and condensation in the presence of an acid catalyst or a base catalyst.

The carbonyl compound (1) wherein the group represented by Z²—Y⁶-G²-Y⁴-A³-Y²- is identical with the group represented by Z¹—Y⁵-G¹-Y³-A²-Y¹, and Y¹ is a group represented by Y¹¹—C(═O)—O— (hereinafter referred to as “compound (1′)”) may be produced by the following reaction.

wherein Y³, Y⁵, G¹, Z¹, A¹, A², and Q¹ are the same as defined above, the group represented by Y¹¹—C(O)—O— is one type of Y¹, and L is a leaving group (e.g., hydroxyl group, halogen atom, methanesulfonyloxy group, or p-toluenesulfonyloxy group).

Specifically, the dihydroxy compound represented by the formula (9) (compound (9)) is reacted with the compound represented by the formula (10) (compound (10)) in a molar ratio (compound (9):compound (10)) of 1:2 to 1:4 (preferably 1:2 to 1:3) to produce the target compound (1′) with high selectivity in high yield.

When the compound (10) is a compound (carboxylic acid) represented by the formula (10) wherein L is a hydroxyl group, the target product may be obtained by effecting the reaction in the presence of a dehydration-condensation agent (e.g., 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (WSC) or dicyclohexylcarbodiimide).

The dehydration-condensation agent is normally used in an amount of 1 to 3 mol based on 1 mol of the compound (10).

When the compound (10) is a compound (acid halide) represented by the formula (10) wherein L is a halogen atom, the target product may be obtained by effecting the reaction in the presence of a base.

Examples of the base include organic bases such as triethylamine, pyridine, and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, and inorganic bases such as sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and sodium hydrogen carbonate.

The base is normally used in an amount of 1 to 3 mol based on 1 mol of the compound (10).

When the compound (10) is a compound (mixed acid anhydride) represented by the formula (10) wherein L is a methanesulfonyloxy group or a p-toluenesulfonyloxy group, the target product may be obtained in the same manner as in the case where L is a halogen atom.

Examples of the solvent used in the step 2 include chlorine-based solvents such as chloroform and methylene chloride; amide-based solvents such as N-methylpyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and hexamethylphosphoric triamide; ether-based solvents such as 1,4-dioxane, cyclopentyl methyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, and cyclopentyl methyl ether; sulfur-containing solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and sulfolane; aromatic hydrocarbon-based solvents such as benzene, toluene, and xylene; aliphatic hydrocarbon-based solvents such as n-pentane, n-hexane, and n-octane; alicyclic hydrocarbon-based solvents such as cyclopentane and cyclohexane; mixed solvents including two or more solvents among these solvents; and the like.

The solvent may be used in an appropriate amount taking account of the type of each compound, the reaction scale, and the like. The solvent is normally used in an amount of 1 to 50 g per gram of the hydroxy compound (10).

The reaction proceeds smoothly when the reaction temperature is within the range from −10° C. to the boiling point of the solvent. The reaction time is determined taking account of the reaction scale, and is normally several minutes to several tens of hours.

Most of the compounds (10) are known compounds, and may be produced by appropriately bonding and modifying a plurality of known compounds having a desired structure by arbitrarily combining an ether linkage (—O—)-forming reaction, an ester linkage (—C(═O)—O— or —O—C(═O)—)-forming reaction, a carbonate linkage (—O—C(═O)—O—)-forming reaction, and an amide linkage (—C(═O)NH— or —NHC(═O)—)-forming reaction.

Production Method (2)

wherein A¹, A², Y¹¹, Y³, Y⁵, Z¹, G¹, Q¹ to Q⁴, X, L and n are the same as defined above.

The production method (2) is a method that produces a polymerizable compound (I-5) represented by the general formula (I) wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are identical, the group represented by Z²—Y⁶-G²-Y⁴-A³-Y² is identical with the group represented by Z¹—Y⁵-G¹-Y³-A²-Y¹, and Y¹ is a group represented by Y¹¹—C(═O)—O—.

Specifically, the compound represented by the formula (I-5) may be produced by reacting the compound represented by the formula (11) (compound (11)) with a 4-fold equivalent of the compound (10) in the same manner as described above in connection with the compound represented by the formula (1′).

The compound (11) wherein n is 1, and Q¹ and Q⁴ are identical (compound (11-1)) may be produced as described below, for example.

wherein A¹, Q¹ to Q³, and X are the same as defined above.

Specifically, the hydrazine (5) is reacted with the compound (9) in an appropriate solvent in a molar ratio (compound (9):hydrazine (5)) of 1:1 to obtain the hydrazone compound represented by (12) (compound (12)), and the compound (8) is reacted with the compound (12) in a molar ratio (compound (12):compound (8)) of 2:1 to obtain the compound (11-1).

The compound (11) wherein n is 0, and Q¹ and Q² are identical (compound (11-2)) may be produced as described below, for example.

wherein A¹ and Q¹ are the same as defined above.

Specifically, the hydrazine (5) is reacted with the compound (9) in an appropriate solvent in a molar ratio (compound (9):hydrazine (5)) of 2:1 to obtain the compound (11-2).

The solvent used when producing the compound (11-1) and the compound (11-2) is not particularly limited as long as the solvent is inert to the reaction. Examples of the solvent include those mentioned above in connection with the production method (1-1).

The reaction proceeds smoothly when the reaction temperature is within the range from −10° C. to the boiling point of the solvent. The reaction time is determined taking account of the reaction scale, and is normally several minutes to several hours.

The target product may be isolated by performing a post-treatment operation normally employed in organic chemistry after completion of the reaction, optionally followed by a known purification/separation means such as column chromatography, recrystallization, or distillation.

The structure of the target product may be identified by measurement (e.g., NMR spectrometry, IR spectrometry, or mass spectrometry), elemental analysis, or the like.

2) Polymerizable Composition

A polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention includes the polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention, and an initiator. The initiator is used to more efficiently polymerize the polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention.

The initiator may be appropriately selected depending on the type of the polymerizable group included in the polymerizable compound. For example, a radical initiator may be used when the polymerizable group is a radically polymerizable group. An anionic initiator may be used when the polymerizable group is an anionically polymerizable group. A cationic initiator may be used when the polymerizable group is a cationically polymerizable group.

Examples of the radical initiator include a thermal radical generator that is a compound that generates active species that initiate polymerization of the polymerizable compound upon heating, and a photo-radical generator that is a compound that generates active species that initiate polymerization of the polymerizable compound upon exposure to exposure light (e.g., visible rays, ultraviolet rays (e.g., i-line), deep ultraviolet rays, electron beams, or X-rays). It is preferable to use the photo-radical generator.

Examples of the photo-radical generator include acetophenone-based compounds, biimidazole-based compounds, triazine-based compounds, O-acyloxime-based compounds, onium salt-based compounds, benzoin-based compounds, benzophenone-based compounds, α-diketone-based compounds, polynuclear quinone-based compounds, xanthone-based compounds, diazo-based compounds, imide sulfonate-based compounds, and the like. These compounds generate active radicals and/or an active acid upon exposure. These photo-radical generators may be used either alone or in combination.

Specific examples of the acetophenone-based compounds include 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one, 2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-morpholinopropan-1-one, 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)butan-1-one, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, 2,2-dimethoxy-1,2-diphenylethan-1-one, 1,2-octanedione, 2-benzyl-2-dimethylamino-4′-morpholinobutyrophenone, and the like.

Specific examples of the biimidazole-based compounds include 2,2′-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetrakis(4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl)-1,2′-biimidazole, 2,2′-bis(2-bromophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetrakis(4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl)-1,2′-biimidazole, 2,2′-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenyl-1,2′-biimidazole, 2,2′-bis(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenyl-1,2′-biimidazole, 2,2′-bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenyl-1,2′-biimidazole, 2,2′-bis(2-bromophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenyl-1,2′-biimidazole, 2,2′-bis(2,4-dibromophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenyl-1,2′-biimidazole, 2,2′-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenyl-1,2′-biimidazole, and the like.

When using a biimidazole-based compound as a photoinitiator, it is preferable to use a hydrogen donor in combination with the biimidazole-based compound since sensitivity can be further improved.

The term “hydrogen donor” used herein refers to a compound that can donate a hydrogen atom to radicals generated by the biimidazole-based compound upon exposure. A mercaptan-based compound, an amine-based compound, and the like are preferable as the hydrogen donor.

Examples of the mercaptan-based compound include 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 2-mercaptobenzoxazole, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2-mercapto-2,5-dimethylaminopyridine, and the like. Examples of the amine-based compound include 4,4′-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone, 4,4′-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone, 4-diethylaminoacetophenone, 4-dimethylaminopropiophenone, ethyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate, 4-dimethylaminobenzoic acid, 4-dimethylaminobenzonitrile, and the like.

Specific examples of the triazine-based compounds include triazine-based compounds that include a halomethyl group, such as 2,4,6-tris(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine, 2-methyl-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine, 2-[2-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)ethenyl]-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine, 2-[2-(furan-2-yl)ethenyl]-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine, 2-[2-(4-diethylamino-2-methylphenyl)ethenyl]-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine, 2-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl]-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine, 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine, 2-(4-ethoxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine, and 2-(4-n-butoxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine.

Specific examples of the O-acyloxime-based compounds include 1-[4-(phenylthio)phenyl]-heptane-1,2-dione-2-(O-benzoyloxime), 1-[4-(phenylthio)phenyl]-octane-1,2-dione-2-(O-benzoyloxime), 1-[4-(benzoyl)phenyl]-octane-1,2-dione-2-(O-benzoyloxime), 1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-ethanone-1-(O-acetyloxime), 1-[9-ethyl-6-(3-methylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-ethanone-1-(O-acetyloxime), 1-(9-ethyl-6-benzoyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-ethanone-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethanone-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-4-tetrahydrofuranylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethanone-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-4-tetrahydropyranylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethanone-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-5-tetrahydrofuranylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethanone-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-5-tetrahydropyranylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethanone-1-[9-ethyl-6-{2-methyl-4-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolanyl)benzoyl}-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethanone-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-4-tetrahydrofuranylmethoxybenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethanone-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-4-tetrahydropyranylmethoxybenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethanone-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-5-tetrahydrofuranylmethoxybenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethanone-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethanone-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-5-tetrahydropyranylmethoxybenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethanone-1-[9-ethyl-6-{2-methyl-4-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolanyl)methoxybenzoyl}-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), and the like.

A commercially available photo-radical generator may be used directly. Specific examples of a commercially available photo-radical generator include Irgacure 907, Irgacure 184, Irgacure 369, Irgacure 651, Irgacure 819, Irgacure 907, Irgacure OXE02 (manufactured by BASF); Adekaoptomer N1919 (manufactured by Adeka Corporation); and the like.

Examples of the anionic initiator include alkyllithium compounds; monolithium salts or monosodium salts of biphenyl, naphthalene, pyrene, and the like; polyfunctional initiators such as dilithiums and trilithium salts; and the like.

Examples of the cationic initiator include proton acids such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, perchloric acid, and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid; Lewis acids such as boron trifluoride, aluminum chloride, titanium tetrachloride, and tin tetrachloride; an aromatic onium salt or a combination of an aromatic onium salt and a reducing agent; and the like.

These initiators may be used either alone or in combination.

The initiator is normally added to the polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention in an amount of 0.1 to 30 parts by weight, and preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable compound.

It is preferable to add a surfactant to the polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention in order to adjust surface tension. The surfactant is not particularly limited, but is preferably a nonionic surfactant. Examples of the nonionic surfactant include an oligomer having a molecular weight of about several thousand, such as KH-40 (manufactured by AGC Seimi Chemical Co., Ltd.). The surfactant is normally added to the polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention in an amount of 0.01 to 10 parts by weight, and preferably 0.1 to 2 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable compound.

The polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention may further include an additional additive such as an additional copolymerizable monomer, a metal, a metal complex, a dye, a pigment, a fluorescent material, a phosphorescent material, a leveling agent, a thixotropic agent, a gelling agent, a polysaccharide, a UV absorber, an IR (infrared) absorber, an antioxidant, an ion-exchange resin, or a metal oxide (e.g., titanium oxide). Each additive is normally added to the polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention in an amount of 0.1 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable compound.

The polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention may be prepared by mixing and dissolving given amounts of the polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention, the initiator, and an optional additive in an appropriate solvent.

Examples of the solvent include ketones such as cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, and methyl ethyl ketone; acetates such as butyl acetate and amyl acetate; halogenated hydrocarbons such as chloroform, dichloromethane, and dichloroethane; ethers such as 1,4-dioxane, cyclopentyl methyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, and 1,3-dioxolane; and the like.

The polymerizable composition thus obtained is useful as a raw material for producing a polymer or an optically anisotropic article according to the embodiments of the invention (described below).

3) Polymer

A polymer according to one embodiment of the invention is (1) a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention, or (2) a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention.

The term “polymerization” used herein refers to a chemical reaction in a broad sense including a normal polymerization reaction and a crosslinking reaction.

(1) Polymer Obtained by Polymerizing Polymerizable Compound

The polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention may be a homopolymer of the polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention, a copolymer of two or more types of the polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention, or a copolymer of the polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention and an additional copolymerizable monomer.

Examples of the additional copolymerizable monomer include, but are not limited to, 4′-methoxyphenyl 4-(2-methacryloyloxyethyloxy)benzoate, biphenyl 4-(6-methacryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoate, 4′-cyanobiphenyl 4-(2-acryloyloxyethyloxy)benzoate, 4′-cyanobiphenyl 4-(2-methacryloyloxyethyloxy)benzoate, 3′,4′-difluorophenyl 4-(2-methacryloyloxyethyloxy)benzoate, naphthyl 4-(2-methacryloyloxyethyloxy)benzoate, 4-acryloyloxy-4′-decylbiphenyl, 4-acryloyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl, 4-(2-acryloyloxyethyloxy)-4′-cyanobiphenyl, 4-(2-methacryloyloxyethyloxy)-4′-methoxybiphenyl, 4-(2-methacryloyloxyethyloxy)-4′-(4″-fluorobenzyloxy)biphenyl, 4-acryloyloxy-4′-propylcyclohexylphenyl, 4-methacryloyl-4′-butylbicyclohexyl, 4-acryloyl-4′-amyltolan, 4-acryloyl-4′-(3,4-difluorophenyl)bicyclohexyl, (4-amylphenyl) 4-(2-acryloyloxyethyl)benzoate, (4-(4′-propylcyclohexyl)phenyl) 4-(2-acryloyloxyethyl)benzoate, and the like. Examples of a commercially available product of the additional copolymerizable monomer include LC-242 (manufactured by BASF).

A polyfunctional monomer that includes a plurality of polymerizable unsaturated groups (e.g., acryloyl group, methacryloyl group, vinyl group, and allyl group) may also be used as the additional copolymerizable monomer.

Examples of such a polyfunctional monomer include alkanediol diacrylates such as 1,2-butanediol diacrylate, 1,3-butanediol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, neopentanediol diacrylate, and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, alkanediol dimethacrylates such as 1,2-butanediol dimethacrylate, 1,3-butanediol dimethacrylate, 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate, neopentanediol dimethacrylate, and 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylates such as ethylene glycol diacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, and tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, polypropylene glycol diacrylates such as propylene glycol diacrylate, dipropylene glycol diacrylate, tripropylene glycol diacrylate, and tetrapropylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylates such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, polypropylene glycol dimethacrylates such as propylene glycol dimethacrylate, dipropylene glycol dimethacrylate, tripropylene glycol dimethacrylate, and tetrapropylene glycol dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol divinyl ethers such as ethylene glycol divinyl ether, diethylene glycol divinyl ether, triethylene glycol divinyl ether, and tetraethylene glycol divinyl ether, polyethylene glycol diallyl ethers such as ethylene glycol diallyl ether, diethylene glycol diallyl ether, triethylene glycol diallyl ether, and tetraethylene glycol diallyl ether, bisphenol F ethoxylate diacrylate, bisphenol F ethoxylate dimethacrylate, bisphenol A ethoxylate diacrylate, bisphenol A ethoxylate dimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate, trimethylolpropane ethoxylate trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane propoxylate triacrylate, trimethylolpropane propoxylate trimethacrylate, isocyanuric acid ethoxylate triacrylate, glycerol ethoxylate triacrylate, glycerol propoxylate triacrylate, pentaerythritol ethoxylate tetraacrylate, ditrimethylolpropane ethoxylate tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol ethoxylate hexacrylate, and the like.

The polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention may be (co)polymerized optionally together with the additional copolymerizable monomer in the presence of an appropriate initiator. The initiator may be used in an amount similar to that of the initiator included in the polymerizable composition.

When the polymer according to one embodiment of the invention is a copolymer of the polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention and the additional copolymerizable monomer, the content of constituent units derived from the polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably 50 wt % or more, and more preferably 70 wt % or more, based on the amount of the total constituent units. When the content of constituent units derived from the polymerizable compound is within the above range, a polymer that has a high glass transition temperature (Tg) and high hardness can be obtained.

The polymer (1) may be produced by (A) (co)polymerizing the polymerizable compound optionally together with the additional copolymerizable monomer in an appropriate organic solvent in the presence of an appropriate initiator, isolating the target polymer, dissolving the polymer in an appropriate organic solvent to prepare a solution, applying the solution to an appropriate substrate to obtain a film, and drying the film, followed by optional heating, or (B) applying a solution prepared by dissolving the polymerizable compound in an organic solvent optionally together with the additional copolymerizable monomer to a substrate by a known coating method, removing the solvent, and effecting polymerization by applying heat or activated energy rays, for example.

Examples of the initiator include those mentioned above in connection with the initiator included in the polymerizable composition.

The organic solvent used for the method (A) is not particularly limited as long as the organic solvent is inert. Examples of the organic solvent used for the polymerization reaction when using the method (A) include aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylene, and mesitylene; ketones such as cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, and methyl ethyl ketone; acetates such as butyl acetate and amyl acetate; halogenated hydrocarbons such as chloroform, dichloromethane, and dichloroethane; ethers such as cyclopentyl methyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, and tetrahydropyran; and the like. Among these, it is preferable to use a compound having a boiling point of 60 to 250° C., and more preferably 60 to 150° C., from the viewpoint of handling capability.

Examples of the organic solvent used to dissolve the polymer when using the method (A) include ketone-based solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclopentanone, and cyclohexanone; ester-based solvents such as butyl acetate and amyl acetate; halogenated hydrocarbon-based solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, and dichloroethane; ether-based solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 1,4-dioxane, cyclopentyl methyl ether, and 1,3-dioxolane; and the like.

Examples of the organic solvent used for the method (B) include ketone-based solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclopentanone, and cyclohexanone; ester-based solvents such as butyl acetate and amyl acetate; halogenated hydrocarbon-based solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, and dichloroethane; ether-based solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), tetrahydropyran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 1,4-dioxane, cyclopentyl methyl ether, 1,3-dioxolane; and the like. Among these, it is preferable to use a compound having a boiling point of 60 to 200° C. from the viewpoint of handling capability.

A substrate formed of a known organic or inorganic material may be used as the substrate. Examples of the organic material include polycycloolefins (e.g., Zeonex, Zeonor (registered trademark; manufactured by Zeon Corporation), Arton (registered trademark; manufactured by JSR Corporation), and Apel (registered trademark; manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals Inc.)), polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyimide, polyamide, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, cellulose, cellulose triacetate, polyethersulfone, and the like. Examples of the inorganic material include silicon, glass, calcite, and the like. It is preferable to use an organic material.

The substrate may be a single-layer substrate, or may be a laminate.

The substrate is preferably a substrate formed of an organic material, and more preferably a resin film formed of the organic material.

The polymer solution (method (A)) or the solution subjected to polymerization (method (B)) may be applied to the substrate by a known coating method. Examples of the coating method include a curtain coating method, an extrusion coating method, a roll coating method, a spin coating method, a dip coating method, a bar coating method, a spray coating method, a slide coating method, a print coating method, and the like.

(2) Polymer Obtained by Polymerizing Polymerizable Composition

The polymer according to one embodiment of the invention can be easily obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention. It is preferable to use a polymerizable composition that includes the above initiator (particularly a photoinitiator) in order to ensure efficient polymerization.

It is preferable to produce the polymer according to one embodiment of the invention by applying the polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention to a substrate, and polymerizing the applied polymerizable composition (i.e., method (B)). Examples of the substrate include a substrate used to produce an optically anisotropic article (described later).

The polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention may be applied to the substrate by a known coating method (e.g., bar coating method, spin coating method, roll coating method, gravure coating method, spray coating method, die coating method, cap coating method, or dipping method). A known organic solvent may be added to the polymerizable composition in order to improve the applicability of the polymerizable composition. In this case, it is preferable to remove the organic solvent by natural drying, drying by heating, drying under reduced pressure, drying by heating under reduced pressure, or the like after applying the polymerizable composition to the substrate.

The polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention or the polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention may be polymerized by applying activated energy rays, or utilizing a thermal polymerization method, for example. It is preferable to polymerize the polymerizable compound or the polymerizable composition by applying activated energy rays since heating is unnecessary (i.e., the reaction can be effected at room temperature). It is preferable to apply light (e.g., ultraviolet rays) to the polymerizable compound or the polymerizable composition from the viewpoint of convenience.

The temperature during application is preferably 30° C. or less. The UV dose is normally 1 W/m² to 10 kW/m², and preferably 5 W/m² to 2 kW/m².

A polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound according to one embodiment of the invention or the polymerizable composition according to one embodiment of the invention may be independently used after removing the polymer from the substrate, or may be used directly as an optical film organic material or the like without removing the polymer from the substrate.

The number average molecular weight of the polymer according to one embodiment of the invention thus obtained is preferably 500 to 500,000, and more preferably 5000 to 300,000. When the number average molecular weight of the polymer is within the above range, the resulting film exhibits high hardness and an excellent handling capability. The number average molecular weight of the polymer may be measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using monodisperse polystyrene as a standard (eluant: tetrahydrofuran (THF)).

It is considered that the polymer according to one embodiment of the invention has a structure in which crosslinking points are uniformly present in the molecule, and exhibits a high crosslinking efficiency and excellent hardness.

The polymer according to one embodiment of the invention makes it possible to inexpensively obtain an optical film that achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength band.

4) Optically Anisotropic Article

An optically anisotropic article according to one embodiment of the invention includes the polymer according to one embodiment of the invention.

The optically anisotropic article according to one embodiment of the invention may be obtained by forming an alignment film on a substrate, and forming a liquid crystal layer on the alignment film using the polymer according to one embodiment of the invention.

The alignment film is formed on the surface of the substrate in order to achieve in-plane alignment of an organic semiconductor compound in one direction.

The alignment film includes a polymer such as a polyimide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyester, polyallylate, polyamideimide, or polyetherimide. The alignment film may be obtained by applying a solution (alignment film-forming composition) that includes such a polymer to the substrate to form a film, drying the film, and performing a rubbing treatment in one direction, for example.

The thickness of the alignment film is preferably 0.001 to 5 μm, and more preferably 0.001 to 1 μm.

The rubbing treatment may be performed on the alignment film or the substrate. The rubbing treatment may be implemented by an arbitrary method. For example, the alignment film may be rubbed in a given direction using a roll around which a cloth or felt formed of synthetic fibers (e.g., nylon) or natural fibers (e.g., cotton) is wound. It is preferable to wash the alignment film with isopropyl alcohol or the like after the rubbing treatment in order to remove fine powder (foreign substances) formed during the rubbing treatment to clean the surface of the alignment film.

The alignment film may be provided with a function of achieving in-plane alignment of a cholesteric liquid crystal layer by applying polarized UV rays to the surface of the alignment film.

The liquid crystal layer may be formed on the alignment film using the polymer according to one embodiment of the invention using the method described above in connection with the polymer according to one embodiment of the invention.

Since the optically anisotropic article according to one embodiment of the invention is produced using the polymer according to one embodiment of the invention, the optically anisotropic article can be produced at low cost, achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength band, and shows satisfactory performance.

Examples of the optically anisotropic article according to one embodiment of the invention include a retardation film, an alignment film for liquid crystal display elements (liquid crystal displays), a polarizer, a viewing angle enhancement film, a color filter, a low-pass filter, an optical polarization prism, an optical filter, and the like.

EXAMPLES

The invention is further described below by way of examples. Note that the invention is not limited to the following examples.

Example 1 Synthesis of Compound 1

Step 1: Synthesis of intermediate A

A four-necked reactor equipped with a thermometer was charged with 20 g (144.8 mmol) of 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde, 105.8 g (362.0 mmol) of 4-(6-acryloylhex-1-yloxy)benzoic acid (manufactured by DKSH Japan K.K.), 5.3 g (43.4 mmol) of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, and 200 ml of N-methylpyrrolidone under a nitrogen stream to prepare a homogeneous solution. After the addition of 83.3 g (434.4 mmol) of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (WSC) to the solution, the mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 12 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was added to 1.5 l of water, and extracted with 500 ml of ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and sodium sulfate was filtered off. Ethyl acetate was evaporated from the filtrate under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to obtain a light yellow solid. The light yellow solid was purified by silica gel column chromatography (toluene:ethyl acetate=9:1 (volume ratio)) to obtain 75 g of an intermediate A as a white solid (yield: 75.4%).

The structure of the target product was identified by ¹H-NMR.

¹H-NMR data for intermediate A

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃, TMS, δ ppm): 10.20 (s, 1H), 8.18-8.12 (m, 4H), 7.78 (d, 1H, J=2.8 Hz), 7.52 (dd, 1H, J=2.8 Hz, 8.7 Hz), 7.38 (d, 1H, J=8.7 Hz), 7.00-6.96 (m, 4H), 6.40 (dd, 2H, J=1.4 Hz, 17.4 Hz), 6.12 (dd, 2H, J=10.6 Hz, 17.4 Hz), 5.82 (dd, 2H, J=1.4 Hz, 10.6 Hz), 4.18 (t, 4H, J=6.4 Hz), 4.08-4.04 (m, 4H), 1.88-1.81 (m, 4H), 1.76-1.69 (m, 4H), 1.58-1.42 (m, 8H).

Step 2: Synthesis of Compound 1

A four-necked reactor equipped with a thermometer was charged with 1.5 g (2.18 mmol) of the intermediate A, 2 ml of 2-propanol, and 5 ml of tetrahydrofuran (THF) under a nitrogen stream to prepare a homogeneous solution. After the addition of 80 mg (1.59 mmol) of hydrazine monohydrate to the solution, the mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 21 hours. After completion of the reaction, 2-propanol and THF were evaporated from the reaction mixture under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to obtain a yellow solid. The yellow solid was recrystallized from a mixed solvent (toluene:n-hexane=1:1 (volume ratio)). A precipitated solid was filtered off, and washed with a mixed solvent (toluene:n-hexane=1:1 (volume ratio)). The resulting solid was purified by silica gel column chromatography (toluene:ethyl acetate=90:10 to 85:15 (gradient) (volume ratio)) to obtain 1.1 g of a compound 1 as a light yellow solid (yield: 50.5%).

The structure of the target product was identified by ¹H-NMR.

¹H-NMR data for compound 1

¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃, TMS, δ ppm): 8.68 (s, 2H), 8.15 (d, 4H, J=9.0 Hz), 8.12 (d, 4H, J=9.0 Hz), 7.98 (d, 2H, J=3.0 Hz), 7.35 (dd, 2H, J=3.0 Hz, 9.0 Hz), 7.29 (d, 2H, J=9.0 Hz), 6.964 (d, 4H, J=9.0 Hz), 6.957 (d, 4H, J=9.0 Hz), 6.410 (dd, 2H, J=1.5 Hz, 17.5 Hz), 6.407 (dd, 2H, J=1.5 Hz, 17.5 Hz), 6.132 (dd, 2H, J=10.5 Hz, 17.5 Hz), 6.128 (dd, 2H, J=10.5 Hz, 17.5 Hz), 5.829 (dd, 2H, J=1.5 Hz, 10.5 Hz), 5.825 (dd, 2H, J=1.5 Hz, 10.5 Hz), 4.188 (t, 4H, J=6.5 Hz), 4.182 (t, 4H, J=6.5 Hz), 4.048 (t, 4H, J=6.5 Hz), 4.045 (t, 4H, J=6.5 Hz), 1.87-1.81 (m, 8H), 1.76-1.70 (m, 8H), 1.59-1.43 (m, 16H).

Example 2 Synthesis of Compound 2

Step 1: Synthesis of Intermediate B

A four-necked reactor equipped with a thermometer was charged with 0.56 g (11.18 mmol) of hydrazine monohydrate and 10 ml of ethanol under a nitrogen stream to prepare a homogeneous solution. After the addition of 1.5 g (11.18 mmol) of 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and 10 ml of THF to prepare a homogenous solution, the solution was stirred at 25° C. for 1 hour. After the addition of 550 mg (3.98 mmol) of terephthalaldehyde to the reaction mixture, the mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 6 hours. After completion of the reaction, a precipitated solid was filtered off by suction filtration. The solid was dried under vacuum to obtain 0.8 g of an intermediate B as a yellow solid (yield: 50.0%). The intermediate B was used directly for the subsequent reaction without purification.

Step 2: Synthesis of Compound 2

A four-necked reactor equipped with a thermometer was charged with 2.54 g (8.69 mmol) of 4-(6-acryloylhex-1-yloxy)benzoic acid (manufactured by DKSH Japan K.K.), 0.97 g (9.6 mmol) of triethylamine, and 25 ml of THF under a nitrogen stream to prepare a solution. 1.1 g (9.6 mmol) of methanesulfonyl chloride was slowly added dropwise to the solution in an ice bath. After the dropwise addition, the mixture was reacted in an ice bath for 1 hour. After the addition of 350 mg (2.86 mmol) of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine and 0.7 g (1.74 mmol) of the intermediate B to the reaction mixture, 0.97 g (9.6 mmol) of triethylamine was slowly added dropwise to the mixture in an ice bath. After the dropwise addition, the mixture was reacted at 15° C. for 1 hour, heated to room temperature (25° C.), and reacted for 2 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was added to 500 ml of water, and extracted twice with 100 ml of ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and sodium sulfate was filtered off. Ethyl acetate was evaporated from the filtrate under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to obtain a yellow solid. The yellow solid was purified by silica gel column chromatography (toluene:ethyl acetate=95:5 (volume ratio)) to obtain 1.0 g of a compound 2 as a light yellow solid (yield: 38.3%).

The structure of the target product was identified by ¹H-NMR.

¹H-NMR data for compound 2

¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃, TMS, δ ppm): 8.77 (s, 2H), 8.54 (s, 2H), 8.19 (d, 4H, J=9.0

Hz), 8.16 (d, 4H, J=9.0 Hz), 8.05 (d, 2H, J=2.5 Hz), 7.82 (s, 4H), 7.39 (dd, 2H, J=2.5 Hz, 9.0 Hz), 7.32 (d, 2H, J=9.0 Hz), 7.01-6.98 (m, 8H), 6.412 (dd, 2H, J=1.5 Hz, 17.5 Hz), 6.409 (dd, 2H, J=1.5 Hz, 17.5 Hz), 6.133 (dd, 2H, J=10.5 Hz, 17.5 Hz), 6.130 (dd, 2H, J=10.5 Hz, 17.5 Hz), 5.830 (dd, 2H, J=1.5 Hz, 10.5 Hz), 5.826 (dd, 2H, J=1.5 Hz, 10.5 Hz), 4.191 (t, 8H, J=6.5 Hz), 4.09-4.05 (m, 8H), 1.88-1.83 (m, 8H), 1.77-1.71 (m, 8H), 1.58-1.45 (m, 16H).

Example 3 Synthesis of Compound 3

Step 1: Synthesis of Intermediate C

A four-necked reactor equipped with a thermometer was charged with 2.00 g (13.1 mmol) of 2,5-dihydroxyacetophenone, 296 mg (5.92 mmol) of hydrazine monohydrate, and 20 ml of 1-propanol under a nitrogen stream. The mixture was stirred at 60° C. for 4 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to 25° C., and poured into 10% sodium bicarbonate water to precipitate crystals. The crystals were filtered off by suction filtration, washed with water, and air-dried. The crystals were used directly for the subsequent reaction without purification.

The structure of the target product was identified by ¹H-NMR.

¹H-NMR data for intermediate C

¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃, TMS, δ ppm): 12.30 (s, 2H), 9.05 (s, 2H), 7.10 (d, 2H, J=2.5 Hz), 6.85 (dd, 2H, J=2.5 Hz, 9.2 Hz), 6.80 (d, 2H, J=9.2 Hz), 2.46 (s, 6H).

Step 2: Synthesis of Compound 3

A four-necked reactor equipped with a thermometer was charged with 3.27 g (11.2 mmol) of 4-(6-acryloylhex-1-yloxy)benzoic acid (manufactured by DKSH Japan K.K.), 671 mg (2.23 mmol) of the intermediate C synthesized by the step 1, and 50 ml of N-methylpyrrolidone under a nitrogen stream to prepare a homogeneous solution. After the addition of 2.56 g (13.4 mmol) of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (WSC) and 1.36 g (11.2 mmol) of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine to the solution, the mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 18 hours. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was added to 500 ml of water, and extracted with 500 ml of ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and sodium sulfate was filtered off. Ethyl acetate was evaporated from the filtrate under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to obtain a white solid. The white solid was purified by silica gel column chromatography (toluene:acetone=95:5 (volume ratio)) to obtain 1.2 g of a compound 3 as a light yellow solid (yield: 38.5%).

The structure of the target product was identified by ¹H-NMR.

¹H-NMR data for compound 3

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃, TMS, δ ppm): 8.12 (d, 4H, J=9.2 Hz), 8.04 (d, 4H, J=9.2 Hz), 8.44 (d, 2H, J=2.8 Hz), 7.22-7.28 (m, 4H), 6.96 (d, 4H, J=9.2 Hz), 6.90 (d, 4H, J=9.2 Hz), 6.40 (dd, 4H, J=1.4 Hz, 17.4 Hz), 6.12 (dd, 4H, J=10.6 Hz, 17.4 Hz), 5.82 (dd, 4H, J=1.4 Hz, 10.6 Hz), 4.18 (t, 4H, J=6.4 Hz), 4.17 (t, 4H, J=6.4 Hz), 4.00-4.06 (m, 8H), 2.07 (s, 6H), 1.79-1.87 (m, 8H), 1.69-1.75 (m, 8H), 1.43-1.55 (m, 16H).

The phase transition temperature was measured by the following method using the compounds 1 to 3 obtained in Examples 1 to 3, the compound 1r of Reference Example 1 that was used in Comparative Example 1, and the compound 2r (“LC242” manufactured by BASF) of Reference Example 2 that was used in Comparative Example 2.

Measurement of Phase Transition Temperature

10 mg of each compound (compounds 1 to 3, compound 1r of Reference Example 1, and compound 2r of Reference Example 2) was weighed, and placed in a solid state between two glass substrates provided with a polyimide alignment film subjected to a rubbing treatment (manufactured by E.H.C. Co. Ltd.). The substrates were placed on a hot plate, heated from 50° C. to 200° C., and cooled to 50° C. A change in structure during a change in temperature was observed using a polarizing microscope (“ECLIPSE LV100 POL” manufactured by Nikon Corporation).

The phase transition temperature measurement results are shown in Table 1.

In Table 1, “C” refers to “crystal”, “N” refers to “nematic”, and “I” refers to “isotropic”. The term “crystal” means that the test compound was in a solid phase, the term “nematic” means that the test compound was in a nematic liquid crystal phase, and the term “isotropic” means that the test compound was in an isotropic liquid phase.

TABLE 1 Polymerizable compound Phase transition temperature Example 1 Compound 1

Example 2 Compound 2

Example 3 Compound 3

Reference Example 1 Compound 1r

Reference Example 2 Compound 2r

Examples 4 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2

1 g of each compound (compounds 1 to 3 obtained in Examples 1 to 3, compound 1r of Reference Example 1, and compound 2r of Reference Example 2), 30 mg of a photoinitiator (“Adekaoptomer N1919” manufactured by Adeka Corporation), and 100 mg of a 1% cyclopentanone solution of a surfactant (“KH-40” manufactured by AGC Seimi Chemical Co., Ltd.) were dissolved in 2.3 g of cyclopentanone. The solution was filtered through a disposable filter having a pore size of 0.45 μm to obtain a polymerizable composition (polymerizable compositions 1 to 3, 1r, and 2r).

The polymerizable compositions 1 to 3, 1r, and 2r were polymerized by the following method to obtain polymers. The retardation was measured, and the wavelength dispersion was evaluated using the resulting polymers.

Measurement of Retardation and Evaluation of Wavelength Dispersion

(i) Preparation of Transparent Resin Substrate Provided with Alignment Film

Each side of an alicyclic olefin polymer film (“ZeonorFilm ZF16-100” manufactured by Zeon Corporation) (thickness: 100 μm) was subjected to a corona discharge treatment. A 5% polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution was applied to one side of the film using a #2 wire bar, and the film was dried to form an alignment film having a thickness of 0.1 μm. The alignment film was subjected to a rubbing treatment to prepare a transparent resin substrate on which the alignment film was formed.

(ii) Formation of Liquid Crystal Layer Using Polymerizable Composition

Each polymerizable composition (polymerizable compositions 1 to 3, 1r, and 2r) was applied to the surface of the transparent resin substrate on which the alignment film was formed, using a #4 wire bar. After drying the film for 30 seconds at the temperature (drying temperature) shown in Table 2, the film was subjected to an alignment treatment for 1 minute at the temperature (alignment treatment temperature) shown in Table 2 to form a liquid crystal layer having a thickness of about 1.5 μm. UV rays were applied to the liquid crystal layer at a dose of 2000 mJ/cm² to effect polymerization to prepare a wavelength dispersion measurement sample.

(iii) Measurement of Retardation

The retardation between 400 nm and 800 nm was measured using the sample utilizing an ellipsometer (“XLS-100” manufactured by J. A. Woollam).

(iv) Evaluation of Wavelength Dispersion

The wavelength dispersion was evaluated from the values α and β calculated by the following expressions using the measured retardation.

α=(retardation at 450 nm)/(retardation at 550 nm)

β=(retardation at 650 nm)/(retardation at 550 nm)

The value α is smaller than 1, and the value β is larger than 1 when ideal wideband wavelength dispersion (i.e., reverse wavelength dispersion) is achieved. The values α and β are almost identical when flat wavelength dispersion is achieved. The value α is larger than 1, and the value β is smaller than 1 when normal dispersion is achieved.

Specifically, flat wavelength dispersion that ensures that the values α and β are almost identical is preferable, and reverse wavelength dispersion that ensures that the value α is smaller than 1, and the value β is larger than 1 is particularly preferable.

TABLE 2 α β Drying Alignment Re Re tem- treatment (450)/ (650)/ Polymerizable perature temperature Re Re compound (° C.) (° C.) (550) (550) Example 4 Compound 1 150 125 0.936 1.010 Example 5 Compound 2 150 100 0.990 0.992 Example 6 Compound 3 120 23 0.965 1.014 Comparative Compound 1r 90 23 1.193 0.918 Example 1 Comparative Compound 2r 80 23 1.086 0.970 Example 2

As is clear from the results shown in Table 2, it was confirmed that the polymers obtained in Examples 4 to 6 were optically anisotropic articles. The values α and β were almost identical when using the polymers obtained in Examples 4 to 6. The polymers obtained in Examples 4 and 6 are particularly preferable since the value α was smaller than 1, and the value 13 was slightly larger than 1.

When using the polymers obtained in Comparative Examples 1 and 2, the value α was significantly larger than 1, and the value β was smaller than 1. 

1. A polymerizable compound represented by a general formula (I),

wherein Q¹ to Q⁴ are independently a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, X is a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, A^(x) and A^(y) are independently a group represented by a general formula (II),

wherein “*” indicates a bonding position, Y¹ to Y⁶ are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —S—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—O—, —NR¹—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—NR¹—, —O—C(═O)—NR¹—, —NR¹—C(═O)—O—, —NR¹—C(═O)—NR¹—, or —NR¹—O—, R¹ is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, G¹ and G² are independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms that optionally includes —O—, —S—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—O—, —NR²—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—NR²—, —NR²—, or —C(═O)—, provided that a case where the aliphatic group includes two or more adjacent —O— or —S— is excluded, R² is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, Z¹ and Z² are independently an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms that is substituted with a halogen atom, or unsubstituted, A¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent aromatic group, and A² and A³ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aromatic group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and n is 0 or
 1. 2. The polymerizable compound according to claim 1, wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein A¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent benzene ring group, or a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent naphthalene ring group, and A² and A³ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group.
 3. The polymerizable compound according to claim 1, wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein Y¹ to Y⁶ are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—.
 4. The polymerizable compound according to claim 1, wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein Z¹ and Z² are independently CH₂═CH—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, or CH₂═C(Cl)—.
 5. The polymerizable compound according to claim 1, wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein G¹ and G² are independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms that optionally includes —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —C(═O)—, provided that a case where the aliphatic group includes two or more adjacent —O— is excluded.
 6. The polymerizable compound according to claim 1, wherein X in the general formula (I) is a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted biphenylene group.
 7. The polymerizable compound according to claim 1, wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein A¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted trivalent benzene ring group, A² and A³ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, Y¹ to Y⁶ are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—, G¹ and G² are independently an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and Z¹ and Z² are independently CH₂═CH—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, or CH₂═C(Cl)—.
 8. A polymerizable composition comprising at least one type of the polymerizable compound according to claim 1, and an initiator.
 9. A polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound according to claim
 1. 10. An optically anisotropic article comprising the polymer according to claim
 9. 11. The polymerizable compound according to claim 2, wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein Y¹ to Y⁶ are independently a chemical single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —O—C(═O)—O—.
 12. The polymerizable compound according to claim 2, wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein Z¹ and Z² are independently CH₂═CH—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, or CH₂═C(Cl)—.
 13. The polymerizable compound according to claim 3, wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein Z¹ and Z² are independently CH₂═CH—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, or CH₂═C(Cl)—.
 14. The polymerizable compound according to claim 2, wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein G¹ and G² are independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms that optionally includes —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —C(═O)—, provided that a case where the aliphatic group includes two or more adjacent —O— is excluded.
 15. The polymerizable compound according to claim 3, wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein G¹ and G² are independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms that optionally includes —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —C(═O)—, provided that a case where the aliphatic group includes two or more adjacent —O— is excluded.
 16. The polymerizable compound according to claim 4, wherein A^(x) and A^(y) are independently the group represented by the general formula (II) wherein G¹ and G² are independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms that optionally includes —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or —C(═O)—, provided that a case where the aliphatic group includes two or more adjacent —O— is excluded.
 17. The polymerizable compound according to claim 2, wherein X in the general formula (I) is a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted biphenylene group.
 18. The polymerizable compound according to claim 3, wherein X in the general formula (I) is a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted naphthylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted biphenylene group.
 19. A polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable composition according to claim
 8. 20. An optically anisotropic article comprising the polymer according to claim
 19. 